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Monday, January 14, 2013

120) Learn Lessons - Not to repeat mistakes

"We are what we repeatedly do." Aristotle

Sisyphus, in Greek mythology, is condemned to roll a massive stone to the top of a hill, only to watch it roll down, and repeat the exercise endlessly. He was condemned by the Gods because he revealed divine secrets to mortals.

We sympathize with Sisyphus. We rebuke the Gods for being unduly harsh and would do what is possible to reduce the severe punishment the condemned man has to suffer. We are ready to help, but do not know how.

The irony is that we do not help ourselves. We too are condemned; punished - not by the Gods, but by our own mindless ways. Sisyphus repeated an exercise endlessly; we repeat willful acts over and over again. Sinful thoughts, unkind words, foul deeds and vengeful acts are repeated, not because we are punished into performing them, but because we choose to; because we will not have it any other way. We condemn ourselves. And who watches? Our children, who should be edified by our example are scandalized. At first they are confused. Then they learn to imitate us, and in time it becomes their response to the challenges in life - hit back, acid remarks, pride and vain glory, deceit, and an unkind way of life.

The Author

Quotes on Parenting

"What gift has Providence bestowed on man that is so dear to him as his children?" Cicero.

"Dads don't need to be tall and broad-shouldered and handsome and clever.Love makes them so." Pam Brown.

"The best combination of parents consists of a father who is gentle beneath his firmness,and a mother who is firm beneath her gentleness." Sydney Harris.

Extracts from a Prayer of General MacArthur

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat; humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son who will know thee and know that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.Let him learn to stand up in a storm; here let him know compassion for those who fall. Let him master himself before he seeks to master other men. Let him reach into the future, yet never forget the past. Let him always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness; the open mind of true wisdom and the meekness of true strength. Then I his father willdare to whisper: 'I have not lived in vain'.

Extracts from Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher

He will have to learn that all men are not just; all men are not true. But teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. Let him learn early that bullies are the easiest to lick. Teach him that it is far more honourable to fail, than to cheat. Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidder, but never put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself.

"On Bringing Up Children"

" Your children are not your children.They are sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.And it is your awesome responsibility to pass the torch of civilization to them.Teach them to think. To wonder. To dream. To meet triumph and disaster equally. Teach them the difference between flattery and praise. Teach them the joy of a sunset. The joy of sharing. The joy of discovering the unknown.More than anything else teach them to WALK TALL"-Khalil Gibran